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** $ 639,616.48 contributed to FAT CAT Contributors #4 Final Bob Martin Rebuttal of KSAT Editorial |
CATO Institute Policy Analysis :"What Term Limits Do that Ordinary Voting Cannot !" Former Express-News Columnist Roddy Stinson OPPOSES Longer Terms at April 2008 HTA Meeting
HTA Editorial If you are on the tax end of tax and spend, please take note of the following:During 1990 and 1991, Homeowner-Taxpayer Association volunteers led by C.A. Stubbs circulated a petition that required city council to place term limits on the ballot. The city charter amendment limited terms to 2-two year terms for council and mayor. As a result, politicians were limited to maximum of 8 years on city council. Strict term limits passed in a landslide by voters fed-up with career politicians and special interests running city hall. They also wanted to end the double-digit yearly property tax rate hikes and back room deals. The benefits from strict term limits include: In 2004 Mayor Garza appointed a charter “reform” committee. The recommendation by the committee to water-down term limits was a forgone conclusion. The so called reform would have allowed a politician to serve 18 years, three 3-year terms on council and again as mayor. Mayor Garza raised $325,000 mostly from special interests to “reeducate” the voters about the alleged drawbacks of strict term limits. The political establishment consisting of business groups, lobbyist, union bosses, city contractors, our local newspaper and other media elites joined forces in an anti-term-limit coalition. The coalition PAC paid for public relations experts, pollsters, campaign managers, billboards, radio, TV, phone banks, block walkers, and direct mail. As a result, some in the media portrayed the campaign as a battle between David and Goliath and gave David no chance at all. David, of course, represented ordinary citizens fighting back with little money. In a stunning upset, voters rejected extending terms by a 2 to 1 margin. What could have gone wrong? Why did the $325,000 campaign fail to reeducate the voters? Clearly dismayed by the election results, one council member credited “blue collar people” unable to understand how things work at city hall. We strongly disagree. We believe ordinary citizens understand exactly how city hall works. They know a council with strict term limits was far better than a return career politicians. Other council members complained the 2004 election failed because the May election was a low voter turn-out election. They apparently forgot it was Mayor Garza and his political consultants that chose the May election date. So here we are, just four short years later, facing another campaign by the very same coalition of business groups, lobbyist, union bosses, city contractors, our local newspaper and other media elites to “reform” term limits. This is like being forced to watch a bad movie you have seen before. Mayor Hardberger would like voters to amend the city charter doubling terms for the council and mayor. This would allow a city hall politician to stay in power for up to 16 years, 8 years on council and 8 years as mayor. He has vowed to raise $750,000 for this attempt to again reeducate the voters. Most of the money will come from special interests. The first PAC report showed six contributors gave $122,500. Certainly a lot more special interest cash will soon be forthcoming. And what kind of return do they expect for their $750,000 investment? Lower taxes and less spending seems very unlikely. Their campaign slogan is “on your terms”. It would seem that strict term limits are on our terms already. After all, voters have approved our current limits in two landslide elections. So we can conclude this slick campaign is about voting for their terms. They also say you can still vote a council member out of office every two years. However, studies have shown it is extremely difficult to vote a politician out of office because of the power of incumbency backed by special interest campaign dollars. In his state of the city address, the Mayor said “Our golden hour is at hand”. In the last three years taxes, fees, utility bills and spending have gone up a staggering 25%. A golden hour for city hall politicians and special interests to be sure, but not for ordinary citizens struggling to make ends meet. So what are we getting for all the taxes we pay to city hall? Inadequate roads, streets without sidewalks or curbs, attacks on the independent city auditor, unsafe city playgrounds, reduced garbage collection, and even more spending on pet projects. Consider the damage a career politician could do with up to 16 years in office! Serving on city council is a community service. We have a council-manager form of government. Council makes policy. Well paid administrators carry it out making longer council terms unnecessary. Recent polls show overturning the results on the 1991 and 2004 term limit elections this November is unlikely. Voters are not inclined to reward city hall tax and spend politicians by doubling terms. Early voting begins October 20th and ends October 31st. Election day is November 4th. The ballot reads:
Please take this opportunity to send a message to the political establishment. Vote NO! It's time to fight back! 
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